Chambers Fine Art is pleased to announ
ce the opening on November 17 of Like Moths to a Flame: Recent Works by Ye
Nan. This exhibition is a development of procedures first glimpsed in Phosp
horous Red - Ye Nan's first exhibition at Chambers in 2010. In the past two
years\, Ye Nan has developed a more in-depth understanding and application
of red phosphorous as a particular artistic medium. His bold and highly in
novative thinking and experimentation show no signs of stopping\, but are e
ver more active\, accentuating the playful and conceptual aspects of the wo
rk.

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The title of the exhibition Like Moths to a Flame comes from Ye
Nan's musings on the phenomenon of moths flying into flames. In scientific
theory\, the phenomenon is a result of the insect's built-in celestial nav
igation. Moths rely on their inherent compound eye structure to determine t
heir direction in relation to moonlight. However\, when an artificial light
source appears\, moths misidentify the artificial light as moonlight and f
ly towards it. A nearby artificial light is of course no celestial moon. In
stinctively trying to maintain a constant angle with the light source\, a m
oth flies around the light in a spiral trajectory\, circle after circle\, u
ntil it dies of exhaustion\; or it flies into the flame. From a scientific
perspective\, the act of moths flying into flames is purely instinctual\; o
n the other hand\, in a literary sense\, there is deep pathos. Though it ap
pears to be a rather stupid suicidal act\, the moths' immolation perpetuate
s the species' phototropism\, which could be just the meaning of living for
moths.

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In this exhibition\, Ye Nan combines his creative process w
ith the principle of moths flying into flames\, as if to signify some sort
of inner connection between his work or this exhibition and the spirit of m
oths. He covers the canvas surface with red phosphorous\, turning the canva
s into a large matchbox striker. He then strikes matches on the canvas like
magical paintbrushes\, creating light and energy in the dark. The energy l
eaves its traces on the canvas\, forming an image within the painting frame
. The whole process is akin to producing an artificial light that attracts
moths to the image\, constructing a scenario between the real and unreal. I
t is worth mentioning that human intervention did not ever cause moths to f
orgo their nature\, in relation to Darwin’s theory of evolution. For the ar
tist\, none of these interpretations is important\, what really matters is
to embody the spirit of moths in the pivotal moment when trying to achieve
the sublime\, as flame turns into ashes.

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In recent years Chambers F
ine Art has been committed to discovering and nurturing the careers of exce
ptional young artists\, Ye Nan being one of them. Ye Nan was born in Hangzh
ou in 1984. Since graduating from the China Academy of Art\, Hangzhou in 20
06\, he has produced an impressive body of work that is highly idiosyncrati
c both technically and thematically. The current exhibition features Ye Nan
's most recent paintings on canvas as well as his latest video. Employing a
strategy of substitution\, the video captures fireworks explosion\, which
serves as a metaphor for Ye Nan’s painting process in slow motion. Such met
aphorical device not only enhances the work’s playfulness\, but also height
ens a sense of being in the scene for the viewers. Meanwhile\, elements fro
m Ye Nan’s paintings- phosphorous and fire are also found in fireworks. Thi
s isn’t a mere coincidence. By transplanting the final moment of fireworks
explosion from reality to canvas\, Ye Nan also introduces to the viewers an
other evanescent beauty in moths flying into flames.